תרזה, Isa. xliv, 14; and κυπάρισσος, Ecclus. xxiv, 13; l, 10; a
large evergreen tree. The wood is fragrant, very compact, and heavy. It
scarcely ever rots, decays, or is worm-eaten; for which reason the
ancients used to make the statues of their gods with it. The
unperishable chests which contain the Egyptian mummies were of cypress.
The gates of St. Peter’s church at Rome, which had lasted from the time
of Constantine to that of Pope Eugene IV, that is to say eleven hundred
years, were of cypress, and had in that time suffered no decay. But
Celsius thinks that Isaiah speaks of the ilex, a kind of oak; and Bishop
Lowth, that the pine is intended. The cypress, however, was more
frequently used, and more fit for the purpose which the prophet
mentions, than either of these trees.
large evergreen tree. The wood is fragrant, very compact, and heavy. It
scarcely ever rots, decays, or is worm-eaten; for which reason the
ancients used to make the statues of their gods with it. The
unperishable chests which contain the Egyptian mummies were of cypress.
The gates of St. Peter’s church at Rome, which had lasted from the time
of Constantine to that of Pope Eugene IV, that is to say eleven hundred
years, were of cypress, and had in that time suffered no decay. But
Celsius thinks that Isaiah speaks of the ilex, a kind of oak; and Bishop
Lowth, that the pine is intended. The cypress, however, was more
frequently used, and more fit for the purpose which the prophet
mentions, than either of these trees.